“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

Gemma Andaya, MS, LCADC, NCC, LCPC-Intern

Owner and Clinician

I am master's level clinician trained to work with clients struggling with mental health, addictions and/or co-occurring disorders (addiction and mental health disorders). I am a firm believer in my client's inherent ability to heal themselves - given the correct environment and guidance to do so. I understand that life can really batter one down and sometimes we need a little help from someone who cares and seeks to listen and understand to start making sense of it all and moving forward. It is my mission to provide my clients at POJ Wellness a safe and nonjudgemental environment in which to start trusting themselves and practicing self-compassion so as to continue on their path of wellness.

In order to accomplish this, I utilize evidenced-based counseling theories and techniques as well as incorporate Eastern philosophies and skills such as breathing exercises, meditation exercises, and even gentle yoga poses (I am also a certified yoga instructor) to integrate your therapeutic experience and maximize results in multiple areas of life (physical, psychological, social, spiritual).

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS: Ph.D. in Leadership with an Emphasis on Counselor Education and Supervision, October 2017 – Present

UNIVERSITY OF LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: B.A. in Psychology, June 2010 - December 17, 2011

COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA: A.A. in Secondary Education, June 2008 - May 2010

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS

LICENSED CLINICAL AND ALCOHOL DRUG COUNSELOR (LCADC), NV

April 11, 2017 – April 30, 2019

#0048-LC

LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR INTERN (LCPC-Intern), NV

October 2017 – October 2019

#CI0317

NATIONAL CERTIFIED COUNSELOR, NV

February 3, 2017 – February 28, 2022

#846534

CERTIFIED YOGA INSTRUCTOR, NV

September 2017

Completed 200-hour yoga teacher training at Blue Sky Yoga, LV

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GREAT BASIN COLLEGE, Adjunct Faculty

January 2018 – Present

Develop and implement a 16-week curriculum for Human Services Program including: discussions, experiential activities, quizzes, tests, and the selection of appropriate textbook to facilitate a scaffolding approach to learning.

Provide individual and group therapy to adults struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health problems. Incorporate mindfulness training, meditation and yoga as means of taking a holistic approach to healing.

COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER, Clinician

October 2017 – Present

Facilitate mindfulness-based and trauma-informed group therapy to those struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

AMERICARES, Consultant

December 2017

Provided psychoeducation on psychological recovery and resilience after a disaster to professionals working within communities affected by natural and human-caused disasters affected by hurricanes in Florida.

SEVEN HILLS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, Intake Counselor

July 2016 – October 2017

Assessed mental status of patients seeking mental health services and make recommendation of level of care appropriate for patients needs at that time. Assessed patient safety and take extra measures to report unsafe behavior/ideation.

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS, Part-Time Instructor

August 2015 – June 2017

August 2013 – May 2015 (as graduate student teacher)

Develop and implement a 16-week curriculum including: discussions, experiential activities, quizzes, tests, and the selection of appropriate textbook to facilitate a scaffolding approach to learning.

HARP TREATMENT CENTER, Clinical Director Consultant

February 2017 – April 2017

Assuring procedures and policies complied with the Joint Commission and NRS standards.

Provided training, guidance/feedback, and auditing of documentation for clinical staff.

Edit, review, and format content for publication by improving the organization and flow of content (i.e., grammar, punctuation, spelling, or syntax errors). Verify the dates and facts to support claims in relation to the article in review.

Conduct research and data analysis and report/advice findings to the head editor in order to improve the quality and dissemination of the journal.

SPECIALIZED ALTERNATIVES FOR FAMILY AND YOUTH, Family Youth Specialist

February 2012 – April 2014

Assessed needs and established wraparound services for youth in foster care as required by state regulations, agency policies, contract requirements, and best practice methodology.

Provided psychosocial rehabilitation services for youth and their family in order to establish a healthy family dynamic and meet the youth’s appropriate developmental stage. Responsibilities also included instructing, counseling, training, and supporting foster parents to handle the foster child's needs and problems.

Developed and implemented customer service training curriculum and workshops. Working as a team member, assisted in developing a customer service training workshop for college staff. Educational topics included dealing with angry customers, effective problem resolution, protocol for crises, and cultural sensitivity.

GUEST LECTURED

MINDFULNESS INTERVENTIONS FOR CLINICIANS, FACULTY, AND SUPERVISORS, University of the Cumberlands

July 2018

Lectured to faculty and PhD candidates on different breathing, meditation, and stretching exercises that can be used to promote mindfulness.

BEYOND THE COUCH CAREER PANEL, OUMP, UNLV

March 2018

Guest panelist for OUMP event at UNLV to speak to psychology undergraduate students on personal and professional experiences as a mental health and substance abuse counselor.

Presented on the history of yoga and yogic philosophies. Related these to the treatment of substance abuse and the mentally ill for applicability. Also, engaged counselors and psychologists-interns in an experiential, beginner-friendly-yoga exercise to implement for self-care and for use with clients.

HED TALK, UNLV

March 2016

Presented on the use of meditation and compassion in the treatment of substance use disorders. See the recorded presentation here:

Provided pro bono grief and crisis counseling to those affected by the 10/1/17 mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas through my own private practice.

MGM, Volunteer Grief Counselor

October 2017

Following the tragic shooting at the Mandalay Bay 10/1/17, provided grief and crisis counseling to about 40 MGM employees and their families.

ROLE-PLAY CO-FACILITATING GROUP THERAPY, Organizer and Group Facilitator

February 2017

Organized for a guest licensed-clinician to come into an undergraduate course and role model how to conduct a group therapy session with male/female co-facilitators. Counseling skills modeled i.e.; empathy, unconditional positive regard, non-judgment, basic listening and attending skills, advanced skills such as utilization of silence, reflections, summarizations, challenging, and the such.

STANDING ROCK FUNDRAISING, Volunteer

October 2016 – December 2016

Helped organize and promote a fundraiser; collect, pack, and send out materials to protesters; and helped spread awareness on the events at Standing Rock through advocacy in classes being taught and community events.

COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE, Volunteer

June 2015 – July 2015

Created and implemented lesson plans to help elementary school-aged children learn English. Lectured for the staff, faculty, and administrates on the implementation of compassion in the school setting to promote growth in students. By demand, presented on boundaries (physical and sexual) to all elementary-aged students in the school.

HOLISTIC HEALTH, Organizer

April 2015

Organized a department-wide guest lecture for students and staff to learn from a professional nutritionist, massage therapist, and yoga instructor on the different dimensions of holistic health.

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION, Organizer

February 2017

Organized a department-wide guest lecture for students and the community to learn from a professional, Dr. Martha Batorski, on the benefits of Transcendental Meditation.

COMPASSION CARE HOSPICE, Volunteer

October 2010 – January 2012

Provided emotional support to terminal patients by building an empathetic and genuine relationship.

IN2BOOKS, Volunteer

September 2010 – August 2011

Mentored elementary-age youth to build a love of reading and writing, resulting in improved performance through the exchange of letters related to assigned book summaries and reflections.